Proverb / Kotowaza
髀肉之嘆
Lamenting the lack of opportunity to exercise one's skills and the resulting idleness.
Lamenting the flesh of the thighs
Quick Answer
Lamenting the lack of opportunity to exercise one's skills and the resulting idleness.
- Literal Image
- Lamenting the flesh of the thighs
- How to Use It
- Used to describe a situation where a talented person is unable to demonstrate their abilities or is forced into long-term inactivity.
Meaning
Expressing frustration or sadness when one has the ability or ambition to achieve great things but lacks the opportunity to do so. It refers to the feeling of wasting time and seeing one's capabilities go unused while waiting for a chance to act.
Literal Image
Lamenting the flesh of the thighs
How to Use It
Used to describe a situation where a talented person is unable to demonstrate their abilities or is forced into long-term inactivity.
Tone
This is a formal and literary expression, carrying a sense of regret or impatience.
Examples
才能がありながら活躍の場がなく、髀肉之嘆をかこっている。
While possessing talent, they lack a place to utilize it and lament their idleness.
引退後のアスリートが髀肉之嘆に暮れるのは珍しいことではない。
It is not unusual for retired athletes to spend their days lamenting their lack of active involvement.
髀肉之嘆を嘆くよりも、自ら機会を作り出す努力をすべきだ。
Rather than lamenting a lack of opportunity, one should strive to create opportunities for themselves.
Learning Notes
Key Vocabulary
Features difficult kanji and a classical four-character structure seldom seen in daily conversation.
髀肉
ひにく / hiniku
flesh of the thighs
嘆
たん / tan
lamentation; sigh
功名
こうみょう / koumyou
achievement; fame
Usage Profile
Usage note: Due to its literary nature, it may sound overly dramatic in casual conversation.
Misread Risk
Do not use this to describe physical weight gain; it specifically refers to the idleness that causes the weight gain in the context of unused talent.
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Source Note
Where did this entry get its data from? The reference links are listed below. To understand how to read this section, see Data Sources.